This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made significant changes to the Jubilee senate leadership, replacing Ruto allies with new leaders. The changes were announced just a day after the President summoned a senate parliamentary group meeting at State House on May 10, 2020.
West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio has taken over as the new Majority leader in the Senate, replacing Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen. Poghisio will be deputised by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dillo. Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has also been replaced as Majority Whip by Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata, who will be deputised by nominated senator Farhiya Ali.
The changes come as a result of a post-election coalition deal inked between the Jubilee Party and KANU, which will now allow KANU to sit in house committees and attend Jubilee’s parliamentary group meetings.
President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated the new appointees, saying he was looking forward to working with them to deliver service to Kenyans. However, the changes were met with opposition by Ruto allies, who took to social media to criticise the move, terming it as a gross violation of the party’s constitution.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria claimed that the new changes were a shade of the rigging that Jubilee orchestrated in 2013. Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot questioned the legitimacy of the State House meeting, stating that 23 senators out of the 35 Jubilee senators had kept away.
“You will never see photos of the purported Jubilee Senators PG for the very simple reason that NUMBERS do not lie. Of the 35 Jubilee Senators, 23 kept off. What has befallen the ruling party? Amidst a global health pandemic, we are engaged in such monkey business?’ He wrote.
